Black Point 3/2/2014

We anchored today at Black Point with about 31+ boats.  It is a delightful settlement with very friendly people.  There is a great laundromat with wi-fi and a very popular cafe called Lorraine's where there is also free wi-fi. Lorraine's mom bakes $6.00 loaves of delicious raisin and coconut bread....worth every penny!  I got to hold an adorable one year old Bahamian boy who had run out into the road.  His aunt tried to give him to me for a few weeks.....!  I miss my grand-kids!

Staniel Cay 3/1/2014

We sailed almost the entire way from Norman's Cay today to the Big Majors anchorage here off of Staniel Cay in west winds of 12-16 knots. The sailing has been awesome since we've left Marathon...no need to buy any diesel for a long time!  Staniel is a cruiser's delight with a small settlement, beaches, snorkeling and a Baptist Church with great music!  Walt and Rich snorkeled into Thunderbolt Grotto at low tide.  We also took our dinghy around the whole island with Deb and Tom---in 17 knots of wind with a strong current.  It was like a white wat

er rapids ride and we all got soaked and pounded.  We also went to see the swimming pigs and their little ones.  We'll be returning here for several days on the return trip.

Norman's Cay 2/28/2014

We sailed like crazy yesterday and at one point we were doing 8.8 knots!  We anchored for two days in a crazy fast current in Norman's Cay with many other boats.  There is a wrecked drug runner plane sticking half out of the water.  At 4:00 AM the wind picked up to 30 knots and a Canadian boat dragged right in front of us.  At low tide we all went to a small island nearby and collected conch shells.  As we sailed out we saw a private yacht that took our breath away.....helicopter, jet skis, umbrella tables...wow!  Rumor has it that it belongs to Steven Speilerg....!

Lyford Cay, New Providence 2/26-2/27/2014

We crossed the very northern tip of the Tongue of the Ocean to anchor in Lyford Cay.  The winds were S 17-18 knots so we had a fantastic sail.  Lyford Cay is a very private and exclusive development.  Sean Connery's principal residence is here.On Thursday we went around the western side of Nassau in West winds 15-20 knots to the Salt Cay waypoint past Atlantis and then thru the narrows to Norman's Cay anchorage.

Bimini, North Cat Cay, NW Channel 2/25/-2/26/2014

We walked along the Bimini shore and enjoyed the beautiful scenery before we left at 11:00 to sail south for North Cat Cay anchorage.  The water here is stunning, the sailing is awesome, and the people are very friendly.  However more and more of the islands are being bought up by private investors and there is either no access or limited access for us cruisers.  We passed the 1929 wreck of the cement ship, Sapona.  Rich wanted to snorkel the sight but the current was too strong.  On Wednesday we anchored just off the NW Channel in 10 feet of water....no land in sight anywhere.  A thunderstorm came up but passed quickly.  In the morning it was so still that you could see right to the bottom of the water-amazing.  We are awed daily by the beauty of God's creation.

 

Weech's Marina, Alice Town, Bimini 2/23/2014

We left Marathon, Florida on Friday and sailed the entire way to Angel Fish Cut in Hawk Channel in 16-19 knot winds from the southeast.....it was awesome!  We never turned the engine on......now that's what sailing is all about!  On Saturday we left the anchorage at 6:30 am with Snow Goose and Our Desire and crossed to the Bahamas.  At 2:30 we anchored in Nixon's Harbor which was very rolly.  Walt finally had to put part of the mainsail up to steady the boat.  Today we sailed up the western coast of Alice Town and then came in to Weech's Marina at high tide around 3:00.  The channel has just been dredged and is well-marked.  I read that customs is closed on the weekend but not here....we cleared customs and immigration with no problem even though it is Sunday and got a 90 day cruising permit.  At 5:00 we celebrated a great gulf stream crossing with Rich and Anna, and Tom and Deb.  Tomorrow we sail to Cat Cay.

Cousin Marilyn visits 1/29/2014

My cousin, Marilyn and her friend, Marilyn, drove up from Key West to have lunch with us this afternoon and stroll along Sombrero Beach.  We hosted her son, Dan and granddaughter, Allie the week before Christmas.  We have stayed at Marilyn's shrimp dock in Fernandina Beach previous years.  Both Marilyns live on Long Island for part of the year and in Florida when the northern winter is just too cold....

Dolphin Research Center 1/24/2014

We visited the Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key today which is a non-profit organization that promotes educational programs about marine mammals.  We saw the dolphins at their best, performing tricks and "talking" to the visitors.  There were two young pups swimming with their moms.  The pups usually nurse for two years before going out on their own.  One fact that I learned today is that the dolphins get almost all of their fresh water from eating fish!  Drinking salt water makes them very sick.

Another glorious sunset over-looking the dinghy dock and anchorage 1/21/2014

I am amazed at how beautiful the sunsets are here in Boot Key.  Yesterday we had a complete rainbow over the anchorage but alas, my camera was on the boat.  I did have my camera when I saw this sunset from the dinghy on our return trip from the park to walk Ranger.

No Name Pub at Big Pine Key 1/17/2014

Wayne & Patti are camping near us again this year at Knight's Key.  We met them five years ago when they were moored next to us in Boot Key on their sailboat, Bumm's Rest.  They sailed to the Exumas that year and we followed them on their blog.  This year we're planning to sail to the southern Bahamas and will take another look at their blog and check out the places they liked the best.  Since they are camping, they have a truck and they picked us up and drove us to No Name Pub on Big Pine....what an awesome, off the beaten track,

pub this is!  Wow!  It's unique and I highly recommend a ride out.  The walls and the ceiling are entirely decorated in one dollar bills....thousands of them!  You'll need your GPS.  The address is 30813 Watson Blvd...Enjoy!